FERRIS STATE’S JAN TALIAN GARNERS ALL-AMERICA HONORS

Senior Captain Named To Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Team

FSU's Jan Talian received 2002-03 ITA Division II All-America accolades

The 30-member team recognizes players who finished among the top 20 singles competitors or the top 10 doubles tandems in the final (May 30) Omni Hotels/ITA Division II National Rankings. Talian, who previously attained ITA Division II Singles and Doubles All-America recognition twice (2000-01), was honored in the singles category this season after placing 17th overall in the final national rankings. He was the only Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) or Great Lakes Region player selected to the All-America team.

A three-time (2000-01 and 2003) first-team All-GLIAC selection, Talian compiled a 26-4 overall singles mark and a 24-9 doubles record this campaign at the number one flights. The 2003 GLIAC and ITA Great Lakes Region Senior Player of the Year claimed the 2002 Omni Hotels/ITA Great Lakes Region Singles Championship (9/29) and finished 7-0 in league regular-season singles action. Talian, who received FSU’s 2002-03 Most Valuable Player Award, also teamed with sophomore Jason Cole (Rockford) to win the regional doubles crown and place second overall in the Division II field at the 2002 Omni Hotels National Small College Championships (10/17-20) in Corpus Christi, Texas. They completed GLIAC regular-season play with an 8-0 record and were ranked 14th in the final national rankings.

Talian, who was the region’s top-ranked singles and doubles player this campaign, finished seventh overall in singles action at the National Small College Championships. The 2001 FSU Most Valuable Player Award winner concluded his Ferris State career ranked third in career singles wins (84-20) and second in career doubles victories (101-21). He was one victory shy of tying Paul Marcum (85-17; 1988-91) for second place on the school’s all-time singles victory list. The FSU team captain posted a combined 185-41 (.819) career singles and doubles record, which ranks second among the school’s all-time victory and winning percentage leaders.

Ferris State, which was ranked 27th in the final Omni Hotels/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II national poll, lost to third-ranked Drury (Mo.) at the 2003 NCAA Division II Championships (May 8) in Sanlando Park at Altamonte Springs, Fla. FSU advanced to the 16-team single-elimination round for the fourth-straight season by claiming one of two Great Lakes Regional Tournament (May 2-3) titles at FSU’s Racquet and Fitness Center in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Bulldogs, who compiled an 18-7 overall record under first-year head coach Kevin Brandalik this campaign, made their ninth overall NCAA-II Tournament appearance and reached the national quarterfinal round for the sixth time this season. Ferris placed second in the 2003 GLIAC Men’s Tennis Tournament (April 18-19) at the Midland (Mich.) Community Tennis Center.

As the governing body of collegiate tennis, the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which was founded in 1956 and is based in Skillman, N.J., administers numerous regional and national championships, the ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit, presented by the United States Tennis Association, and the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings for men’s and women’s tennis at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and junior college levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship.